Eddy County now 3rd in traffic related deaths

CARLSBAD >> The deaths of a Loving woman and her 3-year-old granddaughter Monday at the intersection of State Road 200 and County Road 206 bring the total number of fatal traffic accidents deaths to seven, making Eddy County New Mexico's third most dangerous county to travel.

At approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, Marta Rico, 40, was traveling north on County Road 206 accompanied by her grandchildren, 3-year-old Cadence Lopez and 1-year-old Devin Lopez, when police say she failed to yield to an oncoming semi-truck at the two-way intersection.

Rico's 2000 Tahoe was T-boned by the semi driven by Jamie Quezada, 30, of Lovington. Quezada was traveling east on State Road 200, and police said Quezada was unable to avoid the collision.

Rico and her granddaughter were pronounced dead at the scene. The second child was flown to an El Paso hospital where he is still being treated.

Quezada was not injured.

Investigators from the New Mexico State Police believe that the young girl was not restrained properly and believe driver inattention on Rico's part is to blame as a factor in the crash.

Eddy County, according to Department of Transportation data, now ranks only behind Bernalillo and McKinley counties in the number of traffic accident related deaths.

Only days ago 50-year-old Oralia Lara was killed in a similar collision, when her vehicle was side swept by a semi making a wide right turn on Derrick Road in Loving. Lara was traveling with a second adult and three children who were all treated for injuries.

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The number of fatal traffic accidents is an issue state that State Rep. Cathrynn Brown says is at the forefront of discussion among community leaders.

With the increase of vehicles on the road and the presence of oil and gas related vehicles, the danger to drivers is increasing. Brown proposed a bill during the New Mexico Legislative Session earlier this year that would have required the state to set aside $80 million for road repairs and maintenance in oil and gas producing counties.

"It is incumbent upon drivers to be safe and follow the rules of the road," said Brown. "Every driver has to step it up and be a better, more cautious driver than ever before."

The Southeastern New Mexico Roadway Safety Integration Project, established in 2012, was created in response to the number of rising accidents on Eddy and Lea county roads. The group, which met recently according to Brown, says she's still working to address the issue of the keeping southeast NM drivers safe. For now, that means devising strategies to inform and educate every driver on the road from those who work for commercial vehicle companies to families who are travelling.

But the best defense is attention and caution, according to Manon Arnett of the NM DOT. She recommends drivers brush up on their defensive driving skills and always remain alert and keep distractions to a minimum.